Friends, family make pitches for Cordaro, Munchak

Complete archive of past articles on the Cordaro and Munchak corruption case.

Robert C. Cordaro's son writes about a good man, flawed but principled. A.J. Munchak's nephew describes a second father, someone incapable of committing the crimes for which he was convicted.

More than 130 letters from family, friends and associates of the former Lackawanna County commissioners have been received by Senior U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo as he prepares to sentence Mr. Cordaro and Mr. Munchak on public corruption charges Monday.

The letters were made public by the court over the past several months, with the vast majority posted in the U.S. District Court electronic case file since Wednesday. About 30 were written on behalf of Mr. Cordaro; more than 100 were received for Mr. Munchak.

Some are matter-of-fact, outlining the former commissioners' contributions to the community. Others are far more personal, even achingly poignant, with an emphasis on what impact Mr. Cordaro and Mr. Munchak's imprisonment would have on their families. Almost all implore Judge Caputo to be lenient.

The oldest of Mr. Cordaro's five children, Michael, 23, told Judge Caputo his father taught him that a man is not simply a grown-up male but someone who stands up for his beliefs, his family and his friends despite the consequences and does not back down from a challenge.

He recalled how, when he was in high school, his father roused him and his brothers from bed early on a Saturday to help a family whose home had been flooded - not for a photo shoot or political gain but "because he felt it was right."

"I believe my father learned so much from these past couple of years," Mr. Cordaro's son wrote. "He has realized some personal faults, some which may have helped get him to the point we are at now, but also to not always be looking ahead to the next thing, to focus on the little things.

"My father has too much to give; I truly believe it would be a waste to society for him to be imprisoned for a lengthy period."

In a letter written on team letterhead, Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Munchak called his uncle and godfather his "biggest cheerleader," someone who was "as supportive of me as he was to his own four children and countless other family members."

He said he questioned his uncle when Mr. Munchak decided to run for public office, asking if he was willing to make that kind of sacrifice and subject himself to public scrutiny. His uncle, he said, was fearless and truly believed he could make a difference.

"A.J. Munchak has always been a hard-working, fun-loving, generous and caring man. This is not a person who is capable of what he has been accused," his nephew wrote. "At age 65, he is still a vibrant and active man, who has a lot more to give others."

Jenine Ikeler, the county's former press secretary, wrote that she has known Mr. Cordaro as a boss, a friend and, finally, the person she hoped to spend the rest of her life with. His compassion and loving spirit are evident in the way he cares for his children and parents, she said.

"The gap that Bob's absence will generate is immeasurable," she told Judge Caputo. "All of our plans - to get married, to have children, to spend our lives together - are disappearing before my eyes."

Karen Dartt, whose daughter, Carissa, was fatally injured in a fall in Philadelphia in 2002, told Judge Caputo that Mr. Cordaro demonstrated his "true character" when he attended a Mass in Dunmore on the ninth anniversary of her daughter's death last March 8.

Although they have been friends since first grade, Mrs. Dartt said she and her husband don't see Mr. Cordaro much, but when she turned around at the church, he was there.

"It meant so much to my family that as he was preparing for the fight of his life in court he took the time to remember us and, most importantly, Carissa," she said.

J. Bradley McDermott, a Philadelphia attorney who has known Mr. Cordaro since law school and was a character witness at the trial, urged Judge Caputo to exercise whatever discretion he has to give the former commissioner as light a sentence as possible.

"He has already lost so much and a long sentence in a cage will serve no purpose except to satisfy a public that demands revenge," Mr. McDermott wrote. "A long sentence may satisfy a vengeful public who will quickly forget Robert Cordaro but in the scheme of life will do little to serve justice."

Old Forge resident James Nese, who met Mr. Munchak while serving as president of the Taylor Youth Little League, told Judge Caputo the former commissioner is a true family man and tireless volunteer whose almost 50 years of service to his community should not go unnoticed.

"The pain and indignity of being placed on public display in front of his two grown sons and caring wife will leave scars more deep than a prison term will render," Mr. Nese said. "Although he is perhaps a victim of poor judgment, I do believe he is innocent of any criminal intent."

Attorney Paul J. LaBelle, who described himself as a longtime friend, wrote that he will always believe Mr. Munchak never solicited or accepted money in exchange for a public contract. It would be completely out of character and Mr. Munchak "would never want to let down his constituents, embarrass his family or tarnish the Munchak name," he said.

"There is no sentence that you could impose that would surmount the pain he has already heaped upon himself. That is the kind of person A.J. is," Mr. LaBelle said.

Christine Neary of Scranton, who has known Mr. Munchak and his family for 23 years, wrote that she personally judges someone by asking two question: Would she trust them to raise her children, and would she trust them with her life?

"I know - pretty intense, but the answer is 'absolutely' to both for A.J.," she told Judge Caputo.

Another attorney, Paul T. Oven, who is best friends with Mr. Munchak's son, Anthony Jr., said the former commissioner has been an "unfailing and unwavering public servant" whose record of service to civic organizations too numerous to count speaks for itself.

He said Mr. Munchak made the decision to take his case to trial "not only out of a firm belief in his innocence but also out of an obligation to always do what was right," a trait he instilled in his family.

"The Cordaro-Munchak administration was undeniably not good for Lackawanna County. There was a complete and utter breakdown regarding oversight that has stained our community," Mr. Oven wrote. "I do not, however, believe that Mr. Munchak, personally, knowingly committed a crime or did anything to harm our community or our local government.

"It's simply not within him to do so."

Contact the writer: dsingleton@timesshamrock.com

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